Effects of systemic injections of vilazodone, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and serotonin 1A receptor agonist, on anxiety induced by predator stress in rats.

We examined the effect of Vilazodone, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and serotonin 1A (5-HT(1A)) receptor agonist [Bartoszyk, G.D., Hegenbart, R., Ziegler, H., 1997. EMD 68843, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor with selective presynaptic 5-HT1A receptor agonistic properties. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 322, 147-153.], on change in affect following predator stress. Vilazodone and vehicle injection (intraperitoneal) occurred either 10 min after predator stress (prophylactic testing), or 90 min prior to behavioral testing for the effects of predator stress (therapeutic testing). Predator stress involved unprotected exposure of rats to a domestic cat. Behavioral effects of stress were evaluated with hole board, plus-maze, and acoustic startle tests 1 week after stress. Predator stress increased anxiety-like behavior in the plus-maze and elevated response to acoustic startle. In prophylactic testing, Vilazodone affected stress potentiation of startle at doses above 5 mg/kg. Vilazodone increased stress elevation of startle at 10 mg/kg. Higher doses of Vilazodone (20 and 40 mg/kg) blocked stress potentiation of startle. In contrast, Vilazodone had no effect on stress potentiation of anxiety in the plus-maze. In therapeutic testing, Vilazodone increased stress elevation of startle at all doses. In contrast, therapeutic Vilazodone had no effect on stress potentiation of anxiety in the plus-maze. Taken together, the data suggest a prophylactic potential for Vilazodone in the treatment of changes in hypervigilance following severe stress.